Ford, Ray are all-state

Wednesday

Jun 12, 2013 at 8:25 PMJun 12, 2013 at 8:29 PM

Tiger standouts named Class 4 Honorable Mention

Dave Roberts

Jake Ford was the best baseball player in the Four Rivers Conference and Justin Ray was one of the league's top catchers.The Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA) lists both St. James Tigers among the best players in the state as well.Ford, a senior outfielder, and Ray, a junior catcher, of the St. James High School baseball team, have been named to the Missouri Class 4 All-State Team.Ford and Ray were both Class 4 All-State Honorable Mention.The duo of Ford and Ray were the anchors of an improved St. James squad, which finished with a 10-15 overall record.Ford batted .423 with 33 hits, 23 runs, 23 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples and a homer. He was named the Four Rivers Conference Most Valuable Player for 2013.Ray hit .413 with 38 hits and 12 RBI for the Tigers.Both also pitched for St. James. Several other area players were named to the coaches' all-state team. Here is a list of them:Class 2: Issac Minnick, Sr., Iberia (P, Honorable Mention); Darrian Dickey, Jr., Iberia (OF, Honorable Mention); Dominic Struemph, Sr., Vienna (IF, Honorable Mention); Mason Price, Jr., Belle (DH/Utility, Second Team)Class 3: Taylor Thompson, Jr., Cuba (P, Second Team); Solomon Weider, Sr., Dixon (C, Second Team): Jake Hood, Jr., Licking ( C, Honorable Mention); Ryan Bouse, Jr., Cuba (IF, Second Team); Lane Duncan, So., Licking (IF, Second Team); Wyatt Porter, Sr., Licking (OF, First Team); Cameron Williams, Jr., Cuba (OF, First Team); Tyler Wade, Sr., Licking (OF, Second Team); Andrew Meier, Fr., Dixon (OF, Honorable Mention); Bryer Nash, Jr., Cuba (C, Second Team); Tanner Cantrell, So., Houston (IF, Honorable Mention); Adam Volner, Jr., Steelville (OF, Honorable Mention).Class 4: Justin Ray, Jr., St. James (C, Honorable Mention); Jake Ford, Sr., St. James (OF, Honorable Mention).Class 5: Ethan Howser, Sr., Waynesville (IF, Second Team).